Special Assignment Class

The Special Assignment Class is an option for nurses who have an appointment as an RN or RPN with an approved facility in Ontario.

Members in this class can only practise within the scope of their appointment and only under defined terms and conditions (see below).

Registration Requirements

Applicants to the Special Assignment Class must meet all the registration requirements before they can practise nursing in Ontario.

In addition, applicants to the Special Assignment Class must:

have an appointment or special assignment with a facility in Ontario recognized by the College, or an assignment approved by a panel of the Registration Committee

not have previously been registered as an RN or RPN with the College except as a member of the Special Assignment or Emergency Assignment classes

not have been previously registered as a Special Assignment member for the same assignment or appointment.

A Special Assignment Class membership expires after exactly one year after the members joins the class or the date specified on the member’s certificate of registration or the last day of the appointment or special assignment, whichever comes first.

Membership obligations

Use of protected titles

When practising, members in the Special Assignment Class must identify themselves by the following:

“Registered Nurse (Special Assignment)” or “RN (Spec. Assign.)” in the case of members registered as RNs

“Registered Practical Nurse (Special Assignment)” or “RPN (Spec. Assign.)” in the case of members registered as RPNs.

Terms, conditions and limitations

Every Special Assignment Class member must:

practise only within the scope of the appointment or special assignment and only within the facility named in the certificate

be monitored and directed by a nurse in the General or Extended Class

not perform a controlled or authorized act unless the act is ordered under clause 5 (1) (b) of the Nursing Act, 1991, or by an RN in the General Class

not supervise, monitor or direct the performance of a controlled or authorized act or the practice of another nurse

not delegate to another nurse or anyone else the authority to perform a controlled or authorized act.

Professional liability protection

All Special Assignment Class members must hold professional liability protection (PLP) as set out in the College by-laws. They must produce evidence of PLP whenever the College asks for it.

Reporting requirements

Every Special Assignment Class member must tell the Executive Director about any of the following:

a finding of guilt in any jurisdiction relating to any offence

a charge in any jurisdiction relating to any offence

a finding of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity or any similar finding, in relation to the practice of nursing or another profession in any jurisdiction

a current investigation, inquiry or proceeding for professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity, or any similar investigation or proceeding, in relation to the practice of nursing or another profession in any jurisdiction.

Also, the member must provide any information that is requested by the Executive Director under the authority of the Nursing Act, 1991, the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, regulations under those acts or College by-laws.

Citizenship/Permanent residency/Authorization to practise nursing

A Special Assignment Class member must be one of the following:

a Canadian citizen

a permanent resident of Canada

someone authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) to practise nursing in Ontario.

If a member ceases to be any of these, then that member must immediately stop practising and inform the Executive Director in writing.